xxvi, 422 pages : 24 cm

Denis Benjamin's definitive new work covers all aspects of mushroom consumption, with a fresh approach and anecdotal style that make the mushroom story a compelling one. Using the most current information available, Benjamin blends a love and knowledge of natural history with reliable medical expertise, offering both mushroom hunters and medical personnel a unique perspective on this evocative group of organisms. Mushrooms: Poisons and Panaceas explores the wonder and sense of mystery that have surrounded these fungi down through the centuries, presenting the history of mushroom consumption and differing cultural attitudes toward mushrooms in fascinating detail. In addition, Dr. Benjamin's book clearly and thoroughly discusses the signs, symptoms, and treatment for mushroom poisoning and suggests the right questions to ask in order to arrive at a diagnosis. It also contains a full-color photographic insert to aid in rapid mushroom identification during a medical emergency, and it evaluates the health and nutritional aspects of different species of mushrooms. Emergency room physicians and toxicologists, chefs and dieticians, amateur and professional naturalists, and anyone who is intrigued by food will find this book an invaluable source of information

Includes bibliographical references and index

1. Cultural Attitudes Toward Mushrooms -- 2. History of Mushroom Eating and Mushroom Poisoning -- 3. Introduction to the Biology of Mushrooms -- 4. Nutritional and Culinary Aspects of Edible Mushrooms -- 5. Health Benefits and Medicinal Properties of Edible Mushrooms -- 6. Guidelines for Would-Be Mycophagists -- 7. Poisoning Not Caused by Mushroom Toxins -- 8. Spectrum of Poisonous Mushrooms -- 9. Incidence of Mushroom Poisoning -- 10. Sociology of Mushroom Poisoning -- 11. Diagnosis and Management of Mushroom Poisoning -- 12. Amatoxin Syndrome: Poisoning by the Amanitins -- 13. Delayed-Onset Renal Failure Syndrome: Orellanine or Cortinarin Poisoning -- 14. Gyromitrin Poisoning: Effect of Hydrazines -- 15. "Antabuse" Syndrome: Coprine Poisoning -- 16. Inebriation or Pantherine Syndrome: Effects of Isoxazole Derivatives on the Central Nervous System -- 17. Hallucinogenic Syndrome: Poisoning by Tryptamine Derivatives -- 18. Muscarine Poisoning: PSL Syndrome or SLUDGE Syndrome -- 19. Gastrointestinal Syndrome -- 20. Miscellany of Toxins -- App. 1 Chemistry of Mushroom Toxins and Methods of Analysis -- App. 2 National and Regional Field Guides for Mushroom Identification -- App. 3 Mycological Associations and Consultants -- App. 4 Mushroom Cookbooks

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